Waqatasg Elders Care Facility Holds Grand Opening Celebration

The vision for an Elders Home in Listuguj has been in the works since 2001. In the summer of 2024, that vision became a reality as the Waqatasg Elders Home opened its doors to its first Listuguj Elders.

Although the Elders Home has been open and operational for the past year, on July 24, 2025, an official grand opening celebration was held.

The event consisted of guest speakers, Listuguj Community Health Services Director, Donna Vernon Metallic, the Chief of Listuguj, Scott Martin, and the Listuguj Mi’gmaq Government Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Bassem Abdrabou. The drum group, Eastern Eagle came from Nova Scotia to perform for the guests and residents, accompanied by dancers, Laya Morrison, Alexa Metallic, Tayla Larocque, Vernon Metallic and Tanya Metallic.

A special monument was unveiled at the event, displaying a powerful message that touches on the strength and resilience of Mi’gmaw people, who continue to persevere despite the lasting effects and trauma of Indian Residential School, Indian Day Schools, Boarding Homes and Sanitoriums. While the unveiling of the monument occurred, Carol Metallic read the Mi’gmaw inscription engraved on the monument. The monument is situated in front of the Waqatasg Elders Home at 2 Isaac Street in the community and can be viewed any time.

Several special guests were in attendance:

• Listuguj’s current Chief and members of Council
• Former Listuguj Chiefs, Jerry Wysote, Brenda Gedeon Miller, Allison Metallic, and Darcy Gray
• Tribal Chief Clarissa Sabattis, Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians
• Chief Sheila McCormack, Mi’kmaq Nation, Presque Isle, Maine
• Patty Martin, Mi’kmaq Nation, Presque Isle, Maine
• Marjolaine Siouï, Executive Director, FNQLHSSC
• Rosalee Siouï, Nation Wendat
• Brad Mann, Business Development Manager, Port of Belledune
• Chief Céline Cassivi, Gespeg First Nation
• Connie Jacques, Executive Director, Gespeg First Nation
• Dr. Luce Picard
• Dr. Gilles Pelletier
• Dr. Jean-Paul Dedam
• Tina Hamel, Mi’kmaq Tribal Vice-Chief, Presque Isle, Maine

Tobacco offerings were given out to the guests, and they were asked to sign a guestbook to commemorate the grand opening. To conclude the event, refreshments were served, courtesy of the kitchen staff at the Elders Home.

From the beginning, the main goal of the Waqatasg Elders Home was to create a space where Elders truly feel at home within their own community. This goal was made possible by the collaborative efforts of the Listuguj Community Health Services Directorate and staff at the Waqatasg Elders Home, Capital and Infrastructure, and past and present Chiefs and Councillors.

By Ann Marie Jacques